If you want a garden that feels timeless, smells wonderful, and needs little fuss, consider landscaping with cedar trees – rustic and aromatic evergreen. These tough trees bring structure, year-round color, and a scent that can calm your mind after a long day. They fit perfectly into designs that feel natural and established, even when newly planted.
This guide walks you through choosing, planting, and caring for cedar trees. You’ll learn how to use their shape and texture to create a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape that improves with age.
Landscaping With Cedar Trees – Rustic And Aromatic Evergreen
Cedar trees are a fantastic choice for many garden styles. Their evergreen foliage provides a constant backdrop, while their wood and scent add deep character. They work in large yards and surprisingly well in smaller spaces too, if you pick the right type.
Why Choose Cedar for Your Garden?
Cedars offer benefits that go beyond just looks. They are practical and sensory additions to any property.
- Year-Round Beauty: Their green, blue-green, or gold foliage stays put all winter, giving your garden structure when other plants are bare.
- Natural Aroma: The distinctive scent is more than pleasant; it’s a natural insect repellent, often keeping moths and mosquitoes at bay.
- Wildlife Value: They provide excellent shelter and nesting sites for birds, who also enjoy their small cones.
- Durability: Most cedars are remarkably drought-tolerant once established and resist many pests and diseases.
- Versatility: From tall screens to ground-hugging shrubs, there’s a cedar for almost every landscaping job.
Popular Cedar Varieties for Landscaping
Not all cedars are the same. Picking the correct species for your space and goal is key to success.
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
This native North American tree is incredibly tough. It handles poor soil, wind, and heat. It’s perfect for a rustic hedge or a singular, rugged specimen. Its foliage can have a bronzy hue in winter.
Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)
Known for its fast growth and soft, fragrant foliage, this cedar makes a superb tall screen or windbreak. It thrives in moist, well-drained soils and can get very large, so it needs room.
Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica)
For a dramatic focal point, the silvery-blue ‘Glauca’ variety is stunning. It has a majestic, spreading habit and is best for large properties where it can reach its full, graceful potential.
Dwarf Cedar Varieties
For smaller gardens or rockeries, dwarf forms like the ‘Emerald’ arborvitae or ‘Blue Star’ juniper (a type of cedar) offer the same aromatic appeal in a compact, manageable size. They’re great for foundation planting.
Planning Your Cedar Landscape Design
Think about how you want to use the trees before you buy. Their mature size is the most important thing to consider.
- Privacy Screens & Windbreaks: Plant Western Red Cedars or Eastern Red Cedars in a staggered row, 6 to 10 feet apart depending on the variety. This creates a dense, living wall.
- Specimen Trees: Use a striking tree like a weeping Blue Atlas Cedar as a solo focal point. Place it where its shape can be admired from a patio or window.
- Naturalistic Groupings: Cluster 3 or 5 cedars of the same type in an odd-numbered group to mimic how they grow in nature. This looks very effective on a slope or in a large border.
- Foundation Planting: Use dwarf or columnar cedars to frame your house. Their evergreen color provides a constant, neat appearance that softens building edges.
How to Plant Cedar Trees Correctly
Proper planting gives your cedars the best start. The best times to plant are early fall or early spring, when the weather is cool.
- Choose the Right Spot: Most cedars need full sun (at least 6 hours daily) and well-drained soil. They will not tolerate constantly wet roots.
- Dig a Wide Hole: Make the hole two to three times wider than the root ball, but no deeper. The top of the root ball should be level with or slightly above the surrounding soil.
- Prep the Root Ball: Gently loosen any circling roots on the outside. If the tree is pot-bound, this step is crucial for healthy root growth outward.
- Position and Backfill: Place the tree in the hole. Backfill with the original soil, gently tamping it down to remove large air pockets. Avoid amending the soil too much, as you want roots to adapt to native conditions.
- Water Deeply: Create a shallow berm of soil around the edge to form a watering basin. Soak the area thoroughly to settle the soil.
- Mulch: Apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch like wood chips around the tree, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk. This conserves moisture and suppresses weeds.
Caring for Your Cedar Trees
Cedars are low-maintenance, but they do need some attention, especially when young.
Watering Schedule
Water new cedars deeply once or twice a week for the first growing season. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings. Established cedars are quite drought-tolerant but will benefit from a deep soak during extended dry periods.
Fertilizing Needs
Feed your cedars in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for evergreens. Avoid fertilizing in late summer, as this can promote new growth that may not harden off before winter.
Pruning and Shaping
Cedars generally need little pruning. The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring before new growth starts.
- Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased branches as you see them.
- To maintain a hedge, shear lightly in early summer after the main flush of growth. Avoid cutting back into old wood that has no green growth, as it may not resprout.
- For a natural look, you can selectively prune branches to open up the structure or control size.
Common Problems and Solutions
Even tough cedars can face issues. Catching them early makes all the difference.
- Bagworms: These pests create small cone-shaped bags on branches. Hand-pick and destroy the bags in winter before eggs hatch. For severe cases, use an appropriate insecticide in early summer.
- Spider Mites: They cause foliage to look dusty or bronzed. Spray foliage with a strong jet of water regularly or use horticultural oil.
- Root Rot: Caused by poorly drained soil. Ensure planting site has good drainage and avoid overwatering. Sometimes there is no cure, so prevention is critical.
- Winter Browning: Foliage may turn brown on the side facing winter wind and sun. This is often due to desiccation. Watering deeply in late fall before the ground freezes can help, and you can use burlap screens for young trees in exposed locations.
Companion Plants for Cedar Trees
The right companions enhance the rustic feel. Choose plants that enjoy similar sunny, well-drained conditions.
- Ornamental Grasses: Switchgrass or fountain grass add movement and a soft texture contrast.
- Native Perennials: Coneflower, black-eyed Susan, and sedum thrive in the same conditions and bring seasonal color.
- Other Shrubs: Junipers, dwarf spruce, or potentilla make good shrub-layer partners.
- Bulbs: Daffodils or alliums planted underneath provide early spring interest before the cedar’s shade fills in.
FAQ About Landscaping with Cedar Trees
How fast do cedar trees grow?
It depends on the type. Western Red Cedars can grow 2 feet or more per year. Eastern Red Cedars are slower, at about 1-2 feet. Dwarf varieties may only grow a few inches annually.
Can I plant cedar trees close to my house?
You should always plant based on the tree’s mature width. Keep cedars at least half their mature spread away from foundations, driveways, and sidewalks to avoid future damage from roots or limbs.
Do cedar trees really repel insects?
Yes, the natural oils in cedar wood and foliage are known to deter moths, ants, cockroaches, and some mosquitoes. Using cedar mulch can bring this benefit to garden beds.
Why are the tips of my cedar turning brown?
Tip browning can have several causes: drought stress, spider mite damage, winter burn, or occasionally fungal issues. Check soil moisture first and inspect the foliage closely for pests.
Are cedar trees good for privacy?
They are excellent for privacy. Their dense, evergreen foliage provides a visual barrier year-round. For a quick screen, choose a fast-growing variety like the Western Red Cedar.
Landscaping with cedar trees brings a piece of the forest to your home. Their steadfast presence, easy care, and wonderful fragrance create a space that feels both grounded and refreshing. With careful selection and simple care, these rustic evergreens will anchor your garden beautifully for decades to come.